Congress Criticizes Government Over Air Pollution Debate
In a recent press conference, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh condemned the central government for its inadequate response to air pollution during the winter session of Parliament. He described the session as a 'pollution session' due to the government's refusal to engage in meaningful discussions on the issue. Ramesh highlighted the repeated calls from Rahul Gandhi for debates on deteriorating air quality, particularly in North India, where pollution levels have been alarming. He firmly rejected the government's claims that opposition disruptions were to blame for the lack of discussion, asserting that the responsibility lies solely with the government. This critique follows allegations from the Parliamentary Affairs Minister that Congress obstructed proposed discussions on air pollution.
Dec 19, 2025, 15:07 IST
Congress Leader's Strong Critique of Government's Handling of Air Pollution
On Friday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh launched a fierce critique against the central government regarding air pollution, asserting that the recently concluded winter session of Parliament effectively turned into a "pollution session" due to the government's reluctance to engage in a structured debate on the issue. Speaking at a press conference, Ramesh expressed his shock at the government's response in Parliament, which denied any connection between pollution and respiratory diseases.
Ramesh emphasized that this session was not about legislative matters but rather focused on pollution. He was taken aback when the government claimed in Parliament that there was no link between pollution and lung-related issues. He noted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly called for extensive discussions on deteriorating air quality, particularly in North India, where pollution levels have remained severe for weeks.
He reiterated that Rahul Gandhi had insisted on a discussion about air pollution. The Congress party sought debates in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on this pressing matter. Ramesh dismissed the government's assertion that disruptions by the opposition prevented a discussion on pollution. He pointed out that despite the opposition's demands, the Lok Sabha was adjourned indefinitely without addressing the issue. Unfortunately, the announcement to suspend the session indefinitely was made within the Lok Sabha itself.
In response to accusations from the ruling party, Ramesh firmly stated that the responsibility for the lack of discussion lies with the government. He rejected the government's claim that Congress was to blame for the absence of debate on pollution. His comments followed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's allegations on Friday that Congress disrupted the proposed discussion on air pollution during the winter session. Rijiju had claimed that the government was prepared for a full-day debate but was hindered by opposition disruptions.